Ecumenical hospitality offered by Bishop of Tenerife is central to our Anglican life in his diocese


During a recent visit I made to see the Bishop of Tenerife, Don Bernardo Álvarez Afonso, he affirmed his welcome to Anglicans on the islands in his diocese (Tenerife, La Palma, El Hierro and La Gomera). In our Parish of St Francis in the south of Tenerife, we borrow Roman Catholic Churches for our eucharists as we do in the Anglican Church in La Palma.

It was good to be able to thank Don Bernardo for his ecumenical hospitality. Together we reflected on the results of the referendum on EU membership which was held in the UK and looked at common challenges - reaching youth with the joyful message of the Gospel and helping our priests relate effectively to people who are seeking spiritual nourishment in an increasingly secular Europe.

Don Bernardo is looking forward to meeting the new priest--in-charge of St Francis, Tenerife South, when he arrives, and also to meeting whoever is appointed in due course as Chaplain of All Saints, Puerto de la Cruz, (The latter parish is still in vacancy). He already has met the Revd Jennifer Elliott de Riverol, the priest-in-charge in La Palma.

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